Karla Thieman
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the appointment of Karla Thieman as chief of staff.

Thieman succeeds Brian Baenig, who resigned to become a vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. Doug McKalip, another senior adviser, has been serving as interim chief of staff.

Thieman joined USDA in April 2014, serving as a senior policy adviser to Vilsack and, most recently, has been chief of staff to Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden.

Before joining USDA, Thieman worked for the Senate Agriculture Committee for more than five years, serving under three Democratic chairs of the committee: Tom Harkin of Iowa, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

As senior professional staff on the Agriculture Committee, she handled a portfolio that included livestock, food safety, dairy, energy and climate change.

Thieman previously served in leadership positions on the campaigns of Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, both of Colorado.

Thieman grew up on a third-generation family farm in central Missouri where her family raised cattle, corn and soybeans. She has a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri.